RE: Heavily discounted Lotus Emira for sale
RE: Heavily discounted Lotus Emira for sale
Thursday 19th December 2024

Heavily discounted Lotus Emira for sale

There are several good reasons for choosing a brand-new Emira - and thousands more for buying used


While Lotus would like nothing more than to have Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious consigned to the rubbish bin of outdated witticisms, the firm does appear to be doing its utmost to live up to its age-old billing. Last month, we brought you news that 200 additional jobs were to be lost in the UK thanks to faltering demand; yesterday, thanks to the withdrawal of a finance provider, it was forced to admit to its UK dealer network that it would not be able honour the PCH and BCH deals it had previously agreed with customers currently awaiting delivery. Ouch. 

‘We are working closely to minimise any potential changes and resolve this issue as quickly as possible,’ said Lotus in a statement seen by Car Dealer - although that hardly mitigates the blow to buyer confidence it has administered in the meantime. As PH understands it, this ongoing issue only affects the battery-powered models built in China, which feels like an additional nail in the coffin of the luxury EVs that Lotus was struggling to sell anyway. Especially when you consider the eye-popping savings one could make by opting for a car with little more than delivery miles on it - specifically £47,354 in the case of this 2024 Eletre R, currently on sale at Auto100.  

The same dealer has done a good job in cornering the nearly-new Lotus market of late - as evidenced by the PH forum thread alerting us to it, and the 47 examples it currently has in stock. Of course, much more interesting than the SUV is the Hethel-built Emira, which, in very recent battle with the outgoing Porsche 911 Carrera T, proved to us again why it’s such a dreamy sports car in the right specification. And for the right price. 

Buying brand new, the latter is already troublingly high. The V6 car is now £89,895 OTR with the new road fund licence rates; the 2.0-litre car only just sneaks in under £85,000 OTR - for a derivative, let’s not forget, that was supposed to be the sub-£60k Emira at launch. Given the continuing pressure of inflation more broadly, and Lotus’s narrower predicament, it would be no surprise to see 2025 bring with it even higher costs. At which point the Emira becomes hard to recommend even to card-carrying enthusiasts. 

All this suggests that a ‘used’ example (and that term barely applies to some of Auto100’s stock) is worth jumping on sharpish. Especially ones like this. It’s a great spec, with the V6, manual and softer Touring chassis, plus it comes in Hethel Yellow - which is perfect for the downsized supercar design. Perhaps Ice Grey for the leather wouldn’t be our first choice, though it’s hardly the end of the world, certainly not with a £60k asking price after just 500 miles.

Granted, its plate is from last year, but even when prices were first announced in 2021 the Emira was a £75k car. However you cut it, this is a considerable saving off a great sports car, taking the model back into Cayman and A110 territory - i.e. where it should have been to begin with. To all intents and purposes, bar a small crease on the driver’s seat, it’s a new Lotus Emira for 2025 at about two-thirds what a factory order would cost. Some PHers on the aforementioned thread have already struck while the iron is hot. If you’d like to remind yourself what Lotus is historically exceptional at (without worrying too much about its current situation or its long-term future) we’d heartily recommend doing the same. 


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Original Poster:

388 posts

202 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
quotequote all
As a previous Elise 111S owner, very much looking forward to these hitting towards the bottom of the deprecation curve, if enough sell for that to happen significantly. This has to be one of the best designs out there, so well proportioned.

Gecko1978

12,302 posts

186 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
quotequote all
I do wonder if lotus has much of a future

Holgate86

471 posts

69 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
quotequote all
So pleased I didn't buy a new one, I'm keeping an eye on the used market along with the Alpine A110 for the right one to come along at the right (man maths) price!

another 3 points

1,020 posts

226 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
quotequote all
It’s like asking for the Stones and been given the Beatles. Nice but just tooooo nice. Will stick with my Exige 350. In Chrome orange. That isn’t a trans Evora.

Frimley111R

19,198 posts

263 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
quotequote all
another 3 points said:
It’s like asking for the Stones and been given the Beatles. Nice but just tooooo nice. Will stick with my Exige 350. In Chrome orange. That isn’t a trans Evora.
Prefer your trans-Elise then?

Frimley111R

19,198 posts

263 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
quotequote all
Gecko1978 said:
I do wonder if lotus has much of a future
Fair point, a multi billion dollar investment can't mean that much can it? (#facepalm)

CountyAFC

6,000 posts

32 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
quotequote all
Article said:
The same dealer has done a good job in cornering the nearly-new Lotus market of late - as evidenced by the PH forum thread alerting us to it
Hhhhmmm... whole thing reads like an ad for the garage to me.

ManyMotors

1,098 posts

127 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
quotequote all
Seems these are just not popular.

AlexNJ89

3,202 posts

108 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
quotequote all
ManyMotors said:
Seems these are just not popular.
Either that or people who wanted one have now bought one and aren't selling. But you're probs right.

I personally aggrieved at this car because on paper it should be everything I want, exotic looks, hydraulic steering, manual, it should basically be a modern 360 Modena.

But I was so underwhelmed when I drove one. A 987 Cayman will be more fun to drive.

theicemario

1,569 posts

104 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
quotequote all
Love the Atlantic blue with red leather example they have. Wondered how they ended up with that many Emira in stock. All low mileage and heavily discounted confused

unpc

2,998 posts

242 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
quotequote all
As an ex long term Evora owner, I'm glad I never took the plunge as it seems Lotus have not learned anything. I want a car that I can use daily without wondering what next is going to go wrong. The Evora was conceptually great but the execution left a lot to be desired. I wish Lotus luck but I they're going to need it....

highway

2,716 posts

289 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
quotequote all
Are these cars those that were rejected by their initial buyers and returned to Lotus?

Pouhon

174 posts

184 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
quotequote all
AlexNJ89 said:
ManyMotors said:
Seems these are just not popular.
Either that or people who wanted one have now bought one and aren't selling. But you're probs right.

I personally aggrieved at this car because on paper it should be everything I want, exotic looks, hydraulic steering, manual, it should basically be a modern 360 Modena.

But I was so underwhelmed when I drove one. A 987 Cayman will be more fun to drive.
Nail. Head.

Absolutely spot on. It has all the right ingredients. It is a lovely car and they drive wonderfully, but just not quite enough zing from the powerplant

AlexNJ89

3,202 posts

108 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
quotequote all
Pouhon said:
Nail. Head.

Absolutely spot on. It has all the right ingredients. It is a lovely car and they drive wonderfully, but just not quite enough zing from the powerplant
I saw a video of someone who put a straight piped exhaust on one in USA and it sounded amazing. Made me wonder if that is what it's lacking.

sidesauce

2,967 posts

247 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
quotequote all
Pouhon said:
AlexNJ89 said:
ManyMotors said:
Seems these are just not popular.
Either that or people who wanted one have now bought one and aren't selling. But you're probs right.

I personally aggrieved at this car because on paper it should be everything I want, exotic looks, hydraulic steering, manual, it should basically be a modern 360 Modena.

But I was so underwhelmed when I drove one. A 987 Cayman will be more fun to drive.
Nail. Head.

Absolutely spot on. It has all the right ingredients. It is a lovely car and they drive wonderfully, but just not quite enough zing from the powerplant
This just proves the hypocrisy of many on here who will talk a great game but won't actually put their money where their mouth is. I fully agree, a 987 is the popular choice for many reasons and regardless of people saying it's boring, generic etc etc it's just the. better car in the real world, particularly when it comes to resale...

thelostboy

4,700 posts

254 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
quotequote all
They are crazy money now really. One passed me slowly the other day and it looked absolutely fantastic, even in a fairly standard looking grey metallic. It looks so much more exotic than a Cayman, or 911 for that matter. It sounded good too, despite trundling along.

Surely if you - perhaps - skipped the first year of manufacturer, these are hard to ignore now? Very tempted.

RS_MAN_CHILD

599 posts

298 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
quotequote all
Gecko1978 said:
I do wonder if lotus has much of a future
Yes they have a massive future sold more cars than ever last year profits were up they are doing really well selling cars in China & US (their biggest markets right now).


RS_MAN_CHILD

599 posts

298 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
quotequote all
Pouhon said:
Nail. Head.

Absolutely spot on. It has all the right ingredients. It is a lovely car and they drive wonderfully, but just not quite enough zing from the powerplant
Not sure how much zing you want or need ha ha the V6 is a monster the i4 AMG one is actually faster A-B (despite less power).

Motorway NSL is 70 in UK
NSL is 60 on many of our roads.

The Emira is a monster on these kind of typical UK roads. In a straight line other cars are faster but its all a moot point surely!

LotusOmega375D

9,333 posts

182 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
quotequote all
highway said:
Are these cars those that were rejected by their initial buyers and returned to Lotus?
Yes. This has been confirmed by a former such owner, who has spotted his old car in the list. It had a multitude of problems, so was handed back.

stuart100

1,169 posts

86 months

Thursday 19th December 2024
quotequote all
I watched Harry's video on why he sold it. Rewatched it too because he never quite made the point of exactly why. But he did sell it and buy a Mclaren 650s for not much more money considering that is a far better car in a different league. He just went on about Lotus' current story, that it wasn't £60k to buy (but he and his son had already bought so....that horse had bolted??).